Cuba–Soviet Union relations

• 1. Embassy in Havana 1943

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  Maxim Litvinov, the Soviet ambassador to the United States, established the first Soviet embassy in Havana during World War II. This diplomatic opening occurred in 1943 when Cuban diplomats under President Fulgencio Batista visited Moscow the same year. The Soviets then made contacts with the communist Popular Socialist Party who held a foothold in Batista's governing Democratic Socialist Coalition. Andrei Gromyko succeeded Litvinov as ambassador but never visited Cuba during his tenure. After the war, governments led by Ramón Grau and Carlos Prío Socarrás sought to isolate the Cuban Communist Party. Relations with the Soviet Union were abandoned until Castro took power on the 1st of January 1959.

• 2. Nuclear Deployment July 1962

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  Khrushchev agreed on a deployment plan for nuclear weapons in May 1962 primarily due to Castro's fears of American invasion. By late July over 60 Soviet ships had been en route to Cuba carrying military material. A U-2 flight photographed surface-to-air missile sites being constructed on October 14. US President John F. Kennedy announced the discovery of these installations in a televised address on October 22. Khrushchev sent letters to Kennedy claiming the deterrent nature of the missiles while offering to withdraw them in return for guarantees against invasion. The crisis strained relations because Castro was not consulted throughout the negotiations. He felt angered by the unilateral Soviet withdrawal of missiles and bombers without his input.

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• 3. Comecon Membership 1972

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  Cuba joined the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance or Comecon in 1972 as an economic organization dominated by the Soviet Union. This membership enhanced cooperation in national economic planning and gave Moscow increasing control over Cuba. Comecon deemed Cuba one of its underdeveloped member countries allowing it to obtain oil at highly favorable rates. From 1976 to 1980 the Soviets invested US$1.7 billion on construction and remodeling of Cuban factories. Between 1981 and 1984 Cuba received approximately US$750 million annually in Soviet military assistance. Hard currency obtained from re-exporting oil facilitated imports from non-Comecon countries and investments in social services. Brezhnev became the first Soviet leader to visit Latin America when he arrived at José Martí International Airport in January 1974.

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• 4. Gorbachev Reforms 1985

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  Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in March 1985 introducing reforms that would eventually undermine the alliance. His policies of perestroika and glasnost created ideological conflict with the Cuban regime. The transition towards market reforms weakened the Soviet ruble resulting in reduced subsidies and widespread shortages. In 1986 Castro launched his own rectification campaign intended to forestall reformist ideas spreading from the Soviet Union. After Castro criticized glasnost during a joint conference in Havana in 1988, critical articles emerged in Soviet newspapers. He expelled some Soviet diplomats in February 1989 and banned the sale of Soviet publications stating they could not hesitate to prevent their circulation. Gorbachev visited Cuba in April 1989 but relations declined rapidly after his return to Moscow.

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• 5. Special Period Crisis 1991

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  The dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991 had an immediate devastating effect on Cuba. Trade with the former Soviet bloc declined by more than 90% following the shift to world market prices. Oil imports dropped from 13 million tons in 1989 to about 3 million tons in 1993. The Soviet Union alone imported 80% of Cuban sugar and 40% of Cuban citrus before its collapse. Cuba soon entered a social and fiscal crisis known as the Special Period. Members of the Soviet elite grew critical of unequal trade terms while struggling to reform their own economy. By June 1991 the Soviets disbanded Comecon which had been a huge basis for the alliance. This move further strained the Cuban economic situation leading to isolation and hardship across the island nation.

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